Board of General Studies
MINUTES – 1445-1630, 2 April 2009, CL 412
Members: Stephen Branz, Robert Cooper, Peggy Plato (CASA), Maureen Smith Educ), Tri Caohuu
(Engr), Tom Leddy (H&A), Julie Sliva Spitzer (COS); Wendy Ng (COSS), William Avila (AS)
Absent: Simon Rodan (COB)
Guests: Jackie Snell (Director of Assessment), David Mesher (ENGL 126), Vicki Harrison (ENGL 126),
William Armaline (JS 116)
REMINDER for those of you able to make it -- Ken O'Donnell (CSU, Associate Dean, Academic
Program Planning) will be visiting SJSU Monday, April 13th from 4-5 pm in CL 103. He is
interested in meeting with available BOGS members. Hope that many of you will be able to attend.
Ken will share some thoughts and/or answer and questions you might have.
1.0
Approval of Minutes (Mar 19): Minutes approved unanimously.
2.0
Priority Items:
2.1
GE Program Assessment; continuing discussion focused primarily on what types of
questions/rubrics will be used for assessment if the proposed method for sampling
(discussed previously) is approved.
2.2
HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT (due Monday, April 13 by 5 pm): Each BOGS member
should write 2 questions that might be used for Program Assessment. Specify (1) which
GE Area (R, S, or V) the questions are written for, and (2) which of the nine GE Program
SLOs the questions are meant to address. Remember that these questions should be
answerable by students in a wide variety of courses within the specific GE Area.
2.3
Feedback from departmental colleagues: Sociology faculty expressed concerns about the
sampling methodology, specifically that it is unethical, though it is not entirely clear that
they understood the methodology (Wendy); ChAD faculty were concerned about students
having to answer questions outside their course content.
3.0
GEAP Liaison Reports: n/a
4.0
New Course/s Submitted for Core GE & AI Certification: <http://www.sjsu.edu/ugs/courses/>
Course
Liaison/Reviewer
Action
OCTH 10 (D1)
Leddy/all
GEAP to consider first
CHAD 75 (D1)
Leddy/all
GEAP to consider first
5.0
New Course/s Submitted for SJSU Studies Certification: <http://www.sjsu.edu/ugs/courses/>
Course
Reviewers (2)
Action
AAS 165 (S)
Spitzer/Smith/all
Denied 0-7-0 (based on continuing serious concerns
not addressed by Coordinator in revised materials)
JS 116 (V)
Plato/Rodan/all
Discussion with Coordinator Armaline; no vote
(additionally Smith taken; the course will be reviewed again following
as of 4/2/09)
submission of greensheet and schedule revisions
incorporating recommended changes
JS 187 (V)
Ng/Leddy/all
awaiting revisions based on liaison visit
ENGL 126 (V)
Leddy/Caohuu/all
Approved 7-0-0 (pending revised GS to be reviewed
by Steve on behalf of BOGS)
[The Board commends the Coordinator, Co-Developer, and Chairs of their respective
departments for providing an excellent New Course Certification Request. The topic and the
interdisciplinary approach to the course development are great strengths. The content is
important for our students. Comments included: “beautifully prepared class” and “great
proposal.”]
6.0
Course/s Submitted for Core GE & AI Continuing Certification: n/a
7.0
Course/s Submitted for SJSU Studies Continuing Certification: n/a
8.0
Discussion/Recommendations/Future Business:
8.1
GEAPs -- structure & membership
8.2
MUSE courses with continuing certification due Spring 08 (and earlier)
8.3
GE Modifications for Degree Programs
* from Spring 1998 GE Guidelines (pp 5-6) [Note: not mentioned in Fall 2005 Revision]
* table summarizing current modifications
8.4
Quantitative Literacy
8.5
ABC/NC grading for Basic Skills on first attempt only (not for Engl 1B and 100W)
9.0
Meeting Schedule for AY 2008/09:
BOGS: Sep 11, 25, Oct 9, 23, Nov 6, 20, Dec 4, 11, Feb 5, 12, Mar 5, 19, Apr 2, 16, 30, May 7
GEAPs: Sep 18, Oct 2, 16, 30, Nov 13, Jan 29, Feb 19, 26, Mar 12, Apr 9, 23